Breaking the Corps Line

Ballet has not historically been viewed as an art form pursued by most African-Americans. Llanchie Stevenson began taking ballet classes in 1953 when she was eight years old. As she quickly excelled in her training, she began dreaming of a successful career as a prima ballerina in a major ballet company. She faced numerous barriers because of her race, yet continued to pursue her goal. Because of her dedication, she continuously broke barriers as the first African American female in several dance companies. While she retired from her career after converting to Islam in the 1970s, she continues to impact the ballet world with her innovation of ballet dancers wearing tights to match their natural skin tones.